MIT and Elsevier

Why MIT ended its contract with Elsevier

Elsevier is one of the largest publishers of scholarly journals in the world. MIT Libraries have had several discussions with Elsevier about a new journals contract. Guided by the principles of the MIT Framework for Publisher Contracts, MIT Libraries sought a contract that would reflect the Institute’s values and needs and preserve our ability to share MIT research openly and equitably with the world.

Despite our best efforts, Elsevier was unable to present a proposal that aligned with the framework. After good faith negotiations, it became clear that Elsevier could not meet our needs, so we ended negotiations at the conclusion of our six-month extension on our contract in June 2020.

See the FAQ below for more information. Questions? Contact scholarlypub@mit.edu

Background on the negotiations

The MIT Libraries have been using the MIT Framework for Publisher Contracts to guide negotiations with scholarly publishers since October 2019. The framework affirms the overarching principle that control of scholarship and its dissemination should reside with scholars and their institutions.

Ways in which Elsevier’s 2020 proposal did not align with the framework:

Elsevier would maintain ownership and restrictive rights over journal articles not covered by an open access publishing agreement. This means that many authors would be required to waive MIT’s open access policy, as well as to give up copyright ownership in their papers.
Elsevier’s economic model was inequitable and non-transparent. Per-article payments are costly and risk locking out scholars from less-privileged institutions and less well-funded disciplines. There were no clear explanations for how they arrived at their fees.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the negotiations end with no agreement?

We entered into discussions with Elsevier with the goal to negotiate a contract under the MIT Framework, one that reflects our values and needs and preserves our ability to share MIT research openly with the world. Unfortunately, while we had productive conversations through several rounds, Elsevier was unable to present a proposal that aligned with the principles of the framework.

Is it possible a contract might be reached in the future?

As we continue to rely on the MIT Framework as a foundation to successfully negotiate new contracts with a range of publishers, we hope to be able to resume productive negotiations for such a contract with Elsevier.

What are the principles of the MIT Framework for Publisher Contracts?

One of the framework’s main principles is that control of scholarly work and how it is distributed should reside with the authors and scholarly institutions. The framework aims to ensure that scholarly research outputs are openly and equitably available to the broadest possible audience while providing valued services to the MIT community. More than 100 institutions endorsed the MIT Framework in recognition of its potential to advance open scholarship and the public good.

What content is affected?

As of July 1, 2020, articles published after December 31, 2019, are not available at MIT through Elsevier’s website. We have retained perpetual access to pre-2020 articles in most cases. Access to e-books, book series, handbooks, reference works, or databases is not affected. See this page for how to access Elsevier articles.

Page last updated on March 10, 2023

MIT Libraries

MIT and Elsevier

See also: Get access to Elsevier articles

Why MIT ended its contract with Elsevier

Background on the negotiations

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the negotiations end with no agreement?

Is it possible a contract might be reached in the future?

What are the principles of the MIT Framework for Publisher Contracts?

What content is affected?

Can I get my own subscription?

How do I access Cell and Neuron?

Can I still use excerpts of images and text from Elsevier journals in my own work?